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Population in Cameroon compared to Malawi: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cameroon was 29,123,744 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cameroon's population is 30,864,115 people compared to 22,949,294 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Cameroon's population is 1.34 times bigger than Malawi's.
  • Cameroon is ranked the 51st most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.37% for Cameroon vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Cameroon has had an average growth rate of +2.84% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cameroon has increased from 17.6M people to 30.9M (75.9% growth), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Cameroon vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cameroon Malawi
2100 89,781,496 59,786,744
2099 89,255,966 59,528,389
2098 88,720,337 59,275,876
2097 88,168,066 59,028,312
2096 87,604,050 58,761,888
2095 87,032,145 58,508,246
2094 86,441,720 58,240,422
2093 85,842,389 57,966,788
2092 85,235,505 57,672,738
2091 84,610,360 57,377,090
2090 83,973,967 57,060,476
2089 83,322,813 56,739,410
2088 82,662,944 56,397,330
2087 81,989,354 56,053,671
2086 81,310,407 55,706,928
2085 80,614,775 55,348,708
2084 79,910,947 54,997,097
2083 79,192,092 54,605,058
2082 78,464,535 54,206,477
2081 77,723,079 53,795,317
2080 76,963,821 53,372,779
2079 76,202,603 52,948,243
2078 75,431,803 52,521,908
2077 74,649,057 52,063,931
2076 73,862,841 51,600,404
2075 73,062,202 51,141,728
2074 72,248,179 50,684,368
2073 71,432,221 50,229,762
2072 70,603,305 49,769,904
2071 69,771,981 49,287,139
2070 68,936,208 48,797,935
2069 68,095,292 48,301,644
2068 67,251,348 47,792,308
2067 66,399,507 47,277,473
2066 65,539,313 46,752,024
2065 64,675,474 46,228,139
2064 63,807,579 45,701,844
2063 62,939,156 45,179,322
2062 62,065,714 44,638,764
2061 61,188,220 44,076,711
2060 60,302,920 43,508,702
2059 59,413,352 42,916,694
2058 58,519,385 42,344,863
2057 57,622,572 41,762,060
2056 56,730,793 41,184,161
2055 55,837,458 40,584,950
2054 54,935,159 39,994,696
2053 54,032,780 39,377,622
2052 53,122,812 38,766,890
2051 52,215,921 38,153,322
2050 51,314,050 37,545,865
2049 50,406,453 36,936,275
2048 49,501,629 36,339,833
2047 48,593,064 35,725,127
2046 47,688,721 35,107,179
2045 46,789,773 34,491,916
2044 45,890,362 33,862,279
2043 44,999,297 33,247,804
2042 44,103,714 32,636,511
2041 43,204,033 32,019,447
2040 42,316,677 31,402,305
2039 41,430,803 30,782,479
2038 40,554,253 30,166,708
2037 39,682,947 29,527,821
2036 38,815,989 28,896,515
2035 37,963,436 28,267,970
2034 37,116,013 27,643,367
2033 36,279,025 27,018,105
2032 35,446,827 26,404,071
2031 34,626,572 25,795,897
2030 33,811,853 25,181,820
2029 33,009,874 24,566,478
2028 32,213,983 23,968,071
2027 31,428,884 23,374,588
2026 30,654,707 22,791,601
2025 29,885,995 22,220,885
2024 29,123,744 21,655,286
2023 28,372,687 21,104,482
2022 27,632,771 20,568,728
2021 26,915,758 20,047,258
2020 26,210,558 19,533,888
2019 25,506,095 19,025,752
2018 24,806,383 18,528,081
2017 24,128,601 18,039,715
2016 23,454,161 17,557,739
2015 22,763,414 17,085,587
2014 22,059,893 16,621,538
2013 21,402,376 16,161,816
2012 20,809,529 15,709,577
2011 20,232,304 15,265,022
2010 19,668,066 14,826,463
2009 19,113,974 14,395,788
2008 18,574,056 13,976,417
2007 18,049,896 13,576,343
2006 17,550,407 13,198,701
2005 17,074,594 12,840,031
2004 16,610,487 12,500,737
2003 16,160,340 12,181,574
2002 15,725,528 11,880,440
2001 15,309,490 11,593,058
2000 14,912,631 11,315,942
1999 14,525,140 11,047,804
1998 14,144,860 10,792,876
1997 13,775,214 10,562,035
1996 13,414,757 10,352,228
1995 13,058,516 10,150,117
1994 12,704,903 10,164,894
1993 12,353,131 10,284,024
1992 12,006,353 10,135,079
1991 11,667,180 9,844,227
1990 11,331,821 9,545,852
1989 11,002,745 9,176,220
1988 10,684,968 8,753,262
1987 10,370,749 8,293,174
1986 10,060,342 7,906,480
1985 9,761,730 7,620,508
1984 9,475,078 7,332,810
1983 9,215,397 7,051,709
1982 9,028,678 6,778,879
1981 8,816,377 6,516,454
1980 8,512,219 6,265,529
1979 8,239,641 6,028,749
1978 8,011,921 5,810,132
1977 7,796,501 5,614,983
1976 7,597,962 5,443,384
1975 7,397,120 5,287,367
1974 7,193,583 5,141,337
1973 6,996,660 5,003,938
1972 6,806,872 4,874,475
1971 6,624,408 4,751,434
1970 6,449,793 4,633,944
1969 6,283,462 4,521,184
1968 6,125,863 4,411,054
1967 5,977,318 4,303,012
1966 5,837,295 4,197,926
1965 5,704,686 4,096,157
1964 5,578,257 3,997,305
1963 5,456,623 3,900,506
1962 5,338,620 3,806,307
1961 5,239,273 3,715,534
1960 5,159,057 3,628,134

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cameroon increased by 5,903,754 people (a 33.6% growth), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cameroon gained 7,409,954 people (a 31.6% growth), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% growth).

Cameroon was ranked 59th most populous country in 2006 and is 51st in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cameroon's population will grow by 66.3% to 51,314,050 people with a rank change from 51st to 41st. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Cameroon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 89.8M people compared to the peak of 59.8M people in 2100 for Malawi.

Population growth rate by year

Cameroon
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cameroon Malawi
2100 0.59% 0.43%
2099 0.6% 0.43%
2098 0.63% 0.42%
2097 0.64% 0.45%
2096 0.66% 0.43%
2095 0.68% 0.46%
2094 0.7% 0.47%
2093 0.71% 0.51%
2092 0.74% 0.52%
2091 0.76% 0.55%
2090 0.78% 0.57%
2089 0.8% 0.61%
2088 0.82% 0.61%
2087 0.84% 0.62%
2086 0.86% 0.65%
2085 0.88% 0.64%
2084 0.91% 0.72%
2083 0.93% 0.74%
2082 0.95% 0.76%
2081 0.99% 0.79%
2080 1% 0.8%
2079 1.02% 0.81%
2078 1.05% 0.88%
2077 1.06% 0.9%
2076 1.1% 0.9%
2075 1.13% 0.9%
2074 1.14% 0.91%
2073 1.17% 0.92%
2072 1.19% 0.98%
2071 1.21% 1%
2070 1.23% 1.03%
2069 1.25% 1.07%
2068 1.28% 1.09%
2067 1.31% 1.12%
2066 1.34% 1.13%
2065 1.36% 1.15%
2064 1.38% 1.16%
2063 1.41% 1.21%
2062 1.43% 1.28%
2061 1.47% 1.31%
2060 1.5% 1.38%
2059 1.53% 1.35%
2058 1.56% 1.4%
2057 1.57% 1.4%
2056 1.6% 1.48%
2055 1.64% 1.48%
2054 1.67% 1.57%
2053 1.71% 1.58%
2052 1.74% 1.61%
2051 1.76% 1.62%
2050 1.8% 1.65%
2049 1.83% 1.64%
2048 1.87% 1.72%
2047 1.9% 1.76%
2046 1.92% 1.78%
2045 1.96% 1.86%
2044 1.98% 1.85%
2043 2.03% 1.87%
2042 2.08% 1.93%
2041 2.1% 1.97%
2040 2.14% 2.01%
2039 2.16% 2.04%
2038 2.2% 2.16%
2037 2.23% 2.18%
2036 2.25% 2.22%
2035 2.28% 2.26%
2034 2.31% 2.31%
2033 2.35% 2.33%
2032 2.37% 2.36%
2031 2.41% 2.44%
2030 2.43% 2.5%
2029 2.47% 2.5%
2028 2.5% 2.54%
2027 2.53% 2.56%
2026 2.57% 2.57%
2025 2.62% 2.61%
2024 2.65% 2.61%
2023 2.68% 2.6%
2022 2.66% 2.6%
2021 2.69% 2.63%
2020 2.76% 2.67%
2019 2.82% 2.69%
2018 2.81% 2.71%
2017 2.88% 2.75%
2016 3.03% 2.76%
2015 3.19% 2.79%
2014 3.07% 2.84%
2013 2.85% 2.88%
2012 2.85% 2.91%
2011 2.87% 2.96%
2010 2.9% 2.99%
2009 2.91% 3%
2008 2.9% 2.95%
2007 2.85% 2.86%
2006 2.79% 2.79%
2005 2.79% 2.71%
2004 2.79% 2.62%
2003 2.77% 2.53%
2002 2.72% 2.48%
2001 2.66% 2.45%
2000 2.67% 2.43%
1999 2.69% 2.36%
1998 2.68% 2.19%
1997 2.69% 2.03%
1996 2.73% 1.99%
1995 2.78% -0.15%
1994 2.85% -1.16%
1993 2.89% 1.47%
1992 2.91% 2.95%
1991 2.96% 3.13%
1990 2.99% 4.03%
1989 2.97% 4.83%
1988 3.03% 5.55%
1987 3.09% 4.89%
1986 3.06% 3.75%
1985 3.03% 3.92%
1984 2.82% 3.99%
1983 2.07% 4.02%
1982 2.41% 4.03%
1981 3.57% 4%
1980 3.31% 3.93%
1979 2.84% 3.76%
1978 2.76% 3.48%
1977 2.61% 3.15%
1976 2.72% 2.95%
1975 2.83% 2.84%
1974 2.81% 2.75%
1973 2.79% 2.66%
1972 2.75% 2.59%
1971 2.71% 2.54%
1970 2.65% 2.49%
1969 2.57% 2.5%
1968 2.49% 2.51%
1967 2.4% 2.5%
1966 2.32% 2.48%
1965 2.27% 2.47%
1964 2.23% 2.48%
1963 2.21% 2.47%
1962 1.9% 2.44%
1961 1.55% 2.41%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/malawi | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cameroon grew by 2.65%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Cameroon Malawi
Current population
30864115
22949294
Population rank 51/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.37% 0.28%
One net population change
42 seconds
57.3 seconds
One birth every
32.9 seconds
47.6 seconds
One death every
2.59 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2,058 +1,509
Annual growth/decline +751,057 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate +2.65% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 23/197 26/197
One migration net change every
34.3 minutes
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -15,379 -5,628
Net migration rank 146/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 642,948 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 74/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 2.2% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 130/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cameroon
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cameroon Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -15,379 - -5,628
2024 - -13,892 - -1,507
2023 754,486 -4,798 549,096 -5,811
2022 734,893 -4,798 533,450 -5,231
2021 713,806 -9,888 517,400 -2,666
2020 716,361 -9,888 514,659 -2,655
2019 714,681 -12,255 506,104 -1,837
2018 706,188 -9,184 494,348 -3,267
2017 696,496 -37,912 484,655 982
2016 677,051 13,255 474,779 3,505
2015 649,190 42,008 472,484 -6,471
2014 619,243 96,599 472,418 -10,317
2013 606,072 -6,900 470,293 -12,934
2012 594,029 -7,523 460,684 -13,561
2011 580,607 -12,669 454,149 -12,170
2010 569,921 -9,366 444,468 -9,327
2009 557,841 -10,203 434,811 -8,590
2008 542,919 -10,720 421,781 -9,264
2007 526,949 -10,807 410,290 -22,680
2006 511,366 -28,528 397,123 -29,450
2005 496,547 -27,775 381,130 -31,462
2004 478,880 -19,444 361,133 -32,221
2003 459,422 -18,568 341,133 -31,729
2002 439,544 -10,766 322,863 -30,013
2001 422,511 -19,203 310,833 -28,933
2000 411,633 -21,221 300,439 -28,098
1999 401,969 -17,398 295,629 -31,686
1998 388,432 -12,446 285,407 -39,491
1997 377,138 -13,842 277,433 -61,646
1996 370,355 -12,738 270,048 -66,212
1995 367,532 -12,661 266,745 -66,366
1994 364,390 -12,028 275,439 -505,365
1993 360,785 -9,601 276,538 -284,867
1992 356,072 -13,702 269,066 37,142
1991 350,493 -14,520 260,193 15,291
1990 342,901 -8,163 250,159 71,111
1989 334,649 -11,244 237,967 180,031
1988 328,168 -16,016 226,911 201,011
1987 320,134 -3,829 220,566 271,693
1986 308,188 -3,671 218,519 62,615
1985 296,317 -3,604 216,179 74,625
1984 284,110 -3,512 212,146 72,435
1983 276,112 -37,346 209,422 68,197
1982 274,652 -139,974 205,386 62,661
1981 262,076 27,845 199,436 57,376
1980 247,808 70,589 192,746 52,294
1979 238,875 -12,108 182,123 46,388
1978 229,958 -1,282 172,503 36,225
1977 222,785 -20,622 161,930 19,638
1976 214,916 -19,994 153,422 8,206
1975 206,986 -237 145,254 5,162
1974 200,693 -377 137,819 3,833
1973 193,997 -466 131,529 1,623
1972 186,521 -473 125,728 48
1971 179,317 -439 121,015 -710
1970 170,713 -367 116,822 -2,147
1969 162,603 -286 113,120 -2,266
1968 153,080 -204 110,329 -924
1967 144,370 -148 106,668 0
1966 135,927 -96 103,512 0
1965 129,428 -39 100,040 0
1964 123,469 0 97,658 0
1963 119,784 0 95,933 0
1962 116,232 0 92,463 0
1961 82,471 0 89,091 0
1960 77,948 0 85,718 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/malawi | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Cameroon is from natural causes (a gain of 6,982,395 people) and 0.9% is from migration (a gain of 63,139 people). In Malawi 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 people).

As of 2024, 642,948 residents or 2.2% of the population were not native-born in Cameroon, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

Biggest cities by population

Cameroon
City Population
Douala 2.77M
Yaounde 2.44M
Garoua 1.75M
Bafoussam 480K
Bamenda 349K
Maroua 201K
Ngaoundere 190K
Kumba 144K
Buea 131K
Limbe 84.2K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/cameroon/malawi | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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